Band Line-Up:

Tracklisting:

Anthems for Catharsis is the second release by one-man experimental drone project thisquietarmy from Montreal. Eric Quach blends numerous influences including those of drone, black and doom in this follow up to Rebirths (2014), allowing for further development of textural and structural elements. This album is a dark, solitary and ambient journey into an extensive range of soundscapes that both crush and elate.

The electronically induced beginning in ‘Ruminations’ is bleak and unforgiving, with high levels of distortion, oppressive chords and an unsettling feel. ‘Purgation / Purification’ slowly glides into an atmospheric drone, accentuated by the percussion until fading into a melodic, dream-like passage. Quach creates a huge expanse of space in the third track ‘From Darkness Redux’, layering droning harmonies and monophonic chords over unrelenting percussion. ‘Accommodator’ opens with a sudden energy, distorted and layered textures drive the music forward and through to the fifth track ‘Masquerade’. The dense, ambient feel of this track is accompanied by an unearthly vocal passage that subtly weaves its way through endless droning chords. This is somewhat reminiscent of Year Of No Light’s more atmospheric tracks, which is hardly surprising considering Quach’s vast body of work and collaborations. The final track ‘Closure’ is an electronic soundscape reminiscent of the opening track with a bleak, empty, vastness that consumes, eventually fading into nothing.

Despite the repetitive nature of drone and ambient Quach seamlessly fuses together the instrumentation to focus on the melodic flow of the album. His experimentation into structural soundscapes is clear throughout but I feel that the dynamic range could be explored further. I’ll be looking out for what comes next from darkest Canada…